Charles disarms Melburnians with regal wit

MELBOURNE - Prince Charles took a stroll through Melbourne today and brought a right royal sense of humour with him.

And Melburnians were charmed.

Charles turned on his self-deprecating wit and humility to win over lunchtime shoppers, primary schoolchildren and the city's business elite on the third full day of his whirlwind Australian tour.

He began a speech to launch a corporate volunteering charity, Melbourne Cares -- modelled on a similar organisation the prince presides over in England -- with a joke about bringing the city to a standstill.

"I see you all sitting here expectantly, the only trouble is I don't think I can live up to your expectations at all," he said.

"I don't even know what day of the week it is.

"If it's Thursday I suppose it is Melbourne. I think I must be right."

"I seem to have managed to disrupt the farmers market and probably delay the Grand Prix in some form or other, and maybe ruined various companies' productivity levels by distracting their employees, let alone adding to the overtime costs of the Melbourne police.

"Nevertheless I got here."

Later, the humour had a distinctly "Carry On" tone as the Prince recalled the humble origins of his own organisation.

"Until gradually, as the actress said to the bishop, it all became too big for me," the Prince said as laughter erupted through the 100-strong corporate gathering.

There was more good humour on display when the Prince indulged his famous passion for organic farming at a riverside fresh produce market in central Melbourne.

The heir to the throne looked relaxed in a dark blue double-breasted suit with a white carnation in his lapel.

With security light at Federation Square, he appeared to genuinely enjoy engaging with well-wishers and stallholders.

"Are you going to the farmer's market shopping?" he asked one woman.

"Am I interrupting?"

"We came here to see you," she replied.

"It's a very rash thing to do," he told her.

The prince was most taken with the organic produce for sale, stopping for long chats with Sandra Nicol, who runs an organic fruit stall, and Susan Braker, who sells organic muesli.

Prince Charles' appetite for healthy living was given another spur by the students of a suburban primary school.

Principal Tracy Hammill escorted the prince around Coburg North Primary School accompanied by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, an avowed republican.

But the state premier was ready to put his political sentiments on hold as the prince witnessed children skipping, competing in sack races, practising yoga and breathing exercises and gardening.

Ms Hammill later described the prince as "very personable" and genuinely interested in the children and obviously passionate about nutrition and physical activity".

"(He) went out of his way to make my staff and children feel at ease.

"He truly is a charming prince."

Before leaving in his motorcade the prince also stopped to greet local wellwishers who lined the street beside the school.

One young girl broke from the crowd to hug Charles while police discreetly blocked another woman who wanted to kiss the prince.

And with regal tact, the heir to the British throne appeared not to notice anti-monarchy protesters among the crowd.

"Monarchy equals slavery," read one placard.

The Prince completes his visit to Victoria with a dinner tonight at his old school, Geelong Grammar.

- AAP

* An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Melbourne became a republican state in 1999.